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Here are some answers to questions we commonly
receive from our patients. Please call the office at (831) 422-7815
with any other questions you may have. |
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Why are prescriptions required for some creams? Creams prescribed by a dermatologist contain powerful drugs. The chemistry of the cream allows the drug to penetrate the skin to have the desired effect on the skin. Like all drugs, creams are only used for specific diagnoses and have side effects that can be dangerous. Therefore an examination and diagnosis is required to allow the correct cream to be used. Continued checking for side effects and effectiveness are required to be sure a patient is helped rather than harmed by the drug in the cream. Prescriptions are the doctor's way of controlling a patient's use of the cream. Why are some creams available without a prescription? Some creams are only used as emolliants and do not contain powerful or dangerous drugs. Others may contain a drug that is thought by the government to be so safe that patients cannot be harmed by it and that a correct diagnosis is so simple that a physician's diagnosis is not needed. Why can't a dermatologic diagnosis be made by phone? It is impossible to reliably diagnose a skin problem without looking at the skin. Therefore a physical examination is required before making a diagnosis. Why can't I get a refill of the prescription that worked for my rash the last time? The more time that has passed since your last examination by the dermatologist, the more likely it is that the rash is different or that you could have side effects. Patients are not qualified to determine the diagnosis of a rash. Even if it looks the same as last time, it could in fact be a completely different rash requiring different treatment. Using the incorrect treatment is not only expensive and ineffective, the patient is needlessly exposed to the risk of side effects from the inappropriate treatment. Sometimes the wrong treatment will actually aggravate the patient's skin problem. Some side effects of dermatologic treatment can risk life, health or disfigurement that can be permanent. What do I do if the treatment isn't working or I am getting worse? If you can wait comfortably until your next scheduled appointment for a reevaluation, do so. If you are uncomfortable or worried that something serious is going on, call us at our office at (831) 422-7815. If you are bleeding profusely, in severe pain or otherwise seriously ill going to the emergency room or calling 911 is appropriate. How do I know if I have skin cancer? Although there is much educational material about skin cancer available in magazines, newspapers, on TV and on the Internet, it is not appropriate for a non-expert to make a life or death decision about a possible skin cancer. If you have a mole that changes or a sore that doesn't heal, it should be examined by an expert such as a dermatologist. If you are concerned about skin cancer for any other reason, see your dermatologist. The vast majority of skin cancer is caused by sun exposure. Other causes are exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, radiation therapy, nuclear radiation, or certain viruses. Usually a skin cancer is destroyed or cut out. There are several different ways to destroy skin cancer. Sometimes additional testing or surgery is necessary for certain types of skin cancer. |
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